haig-ht



(No Model.) s Sheets-Sheet 1.

H. J. 112MGrH-T. ELECTRICAL INDICATOR.

No. 492,011. Patented Feb. 21, 1-893.

(No Model.) H J HAIGHT 6S hets-Sheet 3. ELECTRICAL INDICATOR.

No. 492,011. Patented Feb. 21 1893.

THE Mann's PETERS 00.. M'Jram'mt'w WASHINGTON. 0. c4

(No Model.) s Sheets-Sheet 4.

.H. J. HAIGHT. ELECTRICAL INDICATOR.

Patented Feb. 21,

m: nomusvrrzn! 00.. PNUTDLQTNQ, WASHINDTON. n. c,

(No Model.) 1 6 Sheets-Sheet 5.

H. J. HAIGHT.

ELECTRICAL INDICATOR.

No. 492,011. I Patented Feb. 21, 1893.

Tu: "ohms mulls 0a.. PNOTD-LIYHQ. WASNINGTON. o. c

'6 Sheets-Sheet '6'.

(No Model.)

H. J. ,HAIGHT ELECTRICAL INDIGATOR.

Patented Feb, 21, 18-93.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY J. HAIGHT, OF NEW YORK, N. Y,

ELECTRICAL INDICATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 492,011, dated February21, 1893.

Application filed June 1,1892.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HENRY J. HAIGHT, of the city, county, and State ofNew York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in ElectricTransmitters and Indicators Applicable to the Indication of theDirection of Wind and for other Purposes,of which the following is aspecification.

In Letters-Patent of the United States No. 474,735, granted to me May10, 1892, I have shown and described automatic electrical instrumentsfor enabling the position of a windvane to be indicated at a distantplace or places, so that the direction of the wind may be observedwithout looking directly at the wind-vane. The instrumentalities setforth in said patent consisted in an electric circuitcontroller operatedby the wind-vane, and an indicating instrument adapted to indicate thepositions of the wind-vane.

Now the object of the present invention is to improve upon theinstrumentalities setforth in said application, to enlarge the scopethereof, and to overcome defects therein. Whereas, however, the presentimprovements are primarily designed with reference to windvaneindicators, they are applicable to other purposes, and can beusedirrespective of the character of the information to be transmittedand indicated, or of the motive power whichactuatesthetransmitter.Theimprovements will, however, for'the sake of clearness, be describedin detail only in connection with the indication of the positions of awind vane.

The present improvements are illustrated in the accompanying drawings,wherein Figure 1, is a perspective view of the wind vane mechanism. Fig.2, is a central vertical section of the portion of the wind vanemechanism which carries the circuit controller. Fig. 3, is an elevationof the part of the wind vane mechanism constituting the circuitcontroller, detached. Fig. 4, is a horizontal section in a planeindicated by the line t4t in Fig. 3. Fig. 5, isavertic-al section on'alarger scale of a portion of the circuit controller mechanism shown inFig. 2. Fig. 6, is a cross section on an enlarged scale, in aplaneindicated by the line 6-6 in Fig. 5. Fig.7, is a plan view of thestationary electrodes X, Y. Fig. 8, is a detail view on an enlargedscale stain No. 435,182. (No model.)

detail view of the actuating mechanism of the indicating instrument formoving the index in one direction only. Fig. 14, is a detached rear viewof a commutator or cut-out employed. Fig. 15, is a perspective view offragmentary portions 'of the commutator. Fig. 16, is a detailperspective viewof a relay device employed. Fig. 17, isa diagramillustrating the circuit connections between the transmitter andreceiver and the mode of operation.

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 8, the wind vane and thecircuit-controller operated thereby will be described.

A, is a standard or other suitable support, which carries the wind vanemechanism and the circuit controller. To this standard or support A, isrigidly secured a vertical hollow metallic tube B. To this supportingtube is rigidly secured, by screws or otherwise, the lower half 0 of ahollow spherical shell, which has an open tubular sleeve a slipping overthe tube B, whereby the hemisphere O, is secured to the tube B. Theupper half or hemisphere D, of the hollow spherical shell is supportedby and secured to the lower hemisphere G. The hollow spherical shellthus formed constitutes a tight inclosing casing for thecircuit-controlling mechanism. The upper hemisphere D, has a centralaperture and carries a vertically-extending pipe or elongated sleeve E,in line with and communicating with said aperture.

F, is the vertical metallic shaft or spindle which carries the wind vaneG, rigidly connected therewith. This shaft or spindle ex tends throughthe elongated guiding sleeve E, which constitutes both a guide and abearing therefor, and thence centrally through the hollow sphericalshell 0 D. Its lower end enters the upper end of the vertical tube 13,and seats upon a step-bearing b located within said tube. The usualcompass arms 0 are secured to the sleeve E.

Within the hollow spherical casing G D, the spindle or shaft F, carriesa horizontal circnit-making-and-breaking disk H, of metal orelectro-conductive material, which is rigidly secured to the saidspindle or shaft F, so as to rotate therewith. The metallic disk I-l,while carried by the shaft F, is at the same time insulated therefrom.Immediately surrounding the shaft F, is a sleeve (Z of hard rubber orequivalent insulating material, and secured to this hard rubber sleeveis an encircling metallic sleeve 6. The central hollow bossfof the diskH, is slipped over sleeve 6, and is rigidly secured thereto by setscrews. The metallic disk H, is thus electrically insulated from theshaft F, and from all parts in metallic connection therewith. Near itsperiphery, the disk H, is provided with two sets or series ofelectro-conductive contacts g and h. Each of these contacts is adownwardly-extending pin screwed into the underside of the disk 11, soas to be in electric communication therewith and having .its lower endbeveled as shown in Fig. 3. The contacts g constituting the outer setare equidistant from each other and equidistant radially from the axisof the shaft F. The contacts 7b constituting the inner set are likewiseequidistant from each other and equidistant radially from the axis ofthe shaft F. The contacts 9, alternate with the contacts hcircumferentially, as shown in Fig. 4., each contact h beingcircumferentially half-way between two of the contacts g. Thecircumferential distance between one contact g, and the next contact itconstitutes a unit of distance on the disk, and consequently each pairof contacts of either set, 9 or 72, is separated by two units ofdistance. The number of these units of distance (where thecircuitcontrolling disk II, is used with a wind vane), corresponds withthe points of the compass, and may correspond with sub-divisions of thecompass as minute as it may be desired to read. The illustrated disk H,has sixteen contacts g in the outer set, and sixteen contacts h in theinner set, corresponding with the thirty-two points of the compass. Itwill be noted that in Figs. 2, and 3, only a few of the contacts g andit have been illustrated, since to show all thirty-two would introduceconfusion into the figures. In addition to this series of contacts 9 h,the disk 11, carries a downwardly extending vertical circuit-closiug pinI, in metallic and electrical connection therewith.

The upper end of the supporting tube or pipe B,is surrounded by animmovable sleeve J, of hard rubber or equivalent insulating material, sothat all parts carried by said sleeve J, are insulated from thesupporting tube. (See Figs. 5, and 6.) Fastened to the insulatin gsleeve J, are three fixed, separated (and consequently insulated)metallic collars t',j and 7.x, and a metallic sleeve Z. The three col-'through a slot 10 in the spring 7'.

lars t' j carry respectively fixed metallic brackets m, n and 0. Tobrackets n and 0 are secured electric wires or conductors 1, and 2,respectively, which both lead to one pole of an electric generator L.(See Fig. 17.)

The fixed metallic b 'acket m (on collar carries fixed thereto a plateM, of insulating material such as hard rubber. To this insulating plateM, are fastened two electrodes X, Y, which are thereby insulated fromeach otherv and from the other parts of the instrument. Each of theseelectrodes X, and Y, consists of a metallic bowl p journaled in ametallic bearing q carried on the end of a metallic spring 0" secured tothe plate M. The resilience of the springrtends to movethe bowl 1)outwardly away from the plate M, but the outward movement of the bowl islimited and determined by a stop nut s cooperating with a screw 25carried by the plate M, and passing The electrodes X, and Y, areconnected respectively by electric wires or conductrs 3, and t, with theopposite pole of the generatorLtothat with which the conductors 1 and 2connect. (See Fig. 17.) The two electrodes X and Y, are arranged withtheir contact bowls p 19 side by side and in line radially with the axisof the disk II. The outer electrode X, co-operates with the outer set ofcontacts 9, and the inner electrode Y, co-operates with the inner set ofcontacts h. Each bowl 1) is in the path of its corresponding contacts 9or h on the disk H, so that as disk .l-I rotates the bowls are broughtsuccessively in contact with the contacts 9 It. When not in contact withone of its contacts, the circuit through the bowl is broken, since thestop 8 prevents the bowl coming in contact with the disk II, or thebearingq coming in contact with the contacts on the diskI-I. As the disk11, rotates, the electrodes X, and Y, thus come alternately in contactwith their co-opcrating contacts 9 and h. When electrode X, is incontact with one of the contacts g, the latter is in electriccommunication through wire 3 with one pole of the generator L, and theelectrode Y, is out of contact with any of its co-operating contacts h.And when electrode Y, is in contact with one of the contacts h, thelatter is in electric communication through wire 4-, with one pole ofthe generator, and the electrode X, is out of contact with any of itsco-operating contacts g. Since the electrodes X, Y, are stationary,while the disk II, rotates with the shaft F, it follows that wheneverthe direction of the wind shifts the circuit through the generator willbe made and broken one or more times depending on the extent of thechange in direction.

Encircling the sleevel, at the upper end of the tube B, is a rotarymetallic sleeve N, the sleeve Z constituting a guide and bearing forsaid sleeve N. This sleeve N, is provided with a horizontally andradially extending metallic arm 0, which constitutes an electrode andextends into the path of the pin I, on the disk H.

Surrounding the sleeve N, is a sleeve P, of insulating material such ashard rubber, and surrounding this insulating sleeve P, is a metallicsleeve Q. Sleeves P, and Q, are both rigidly connected to the sleeve N,so thatthe three sleeves N. P. Q. rotate together around sleeve Z,sleeve Q, being, however, insulated from sleeve N, by the intermediatesleeve P. The sleeve Q, carries a horizontally and radially extendingarm R, constituting an electrode, which extends into the path of thestud or pin I, on the disk H. The electrodes or arms 0, R, are heldseparated from each other at an invariable distance that is slightlygreater than the diameter of the pin or stud I, which is located betweenthem. The arms 0, R, and pin or stud I, are provided with co-operatingcontact pieces to of platinum (see Figs. 3,4, 6).

The fixed bracket 0 on fixed collar It, has two spring contacts,electrodes, or brushes S, S, which, by the resilience of the metal ofwhich they are composed, press in electrical contact upon the outersurface of the sleeve Q. Consequently electrode R, is always in metallicconnection with branch return conductor 2.

The inner rotary metallic sleeve N, is of greater width than sleeves P,Q, so that aportion of its outer surface is exposed. Against thisexposed surface of sleeve N, two spring contacts, electrodes, or brushesT, T, (carried by fixed bracket n, on fixed collar j) press infrictional contact by reason of the resilience of the spring metal ofwhich they are composed, so that the electrode O, is always in metallicelectric connection with the branch return conductor 1. It consequentlyfollows that, since the pin or stud I, is less in diameter than thedistance between the electrodes 0, R, only one of the branch returnconductors 1, or 2, can be in co-operative'relation with the mainconductors 3, and 4. The particular one of the branch conductors 1, or2, in operation is determined by the direction in which disk I-I, turns.As long as it turns in one direction (say in the direction of arrow 41),stud or pin I, will be in contact with electrode 0, and consequentlybranch conductor 1, will be operative and Willbe brought alternatelyinto communication with conductors 3, and 4. But if the direction ofmotion 7 of disk H, is reversed, stud orpin'I, will leave electrode 0,and be brought in contact with the other electrode R, and consequentlybranch conductor 2, will be operative and will be brought alternatelyinto communication with conductors 3, and 4.

The extent of play which the pin or stud I, has between the electrodes0, R, is less than the circumferential distance between two adjacentcontacts g or it, so that the pin or stud I, will always be in contactwith either 0 or R when the electrodes X and Y alternately open or closethe circuit by co-operation with said contacts g or h.

The conducting wires 1,2, 3, and 4, are led from their respectivebrackets m, n and-0,

into the interior of the supporting pipe or tube B, through an aperture:20 which establishes communication between the interior of the hollowspherical shell 0 D, and the interior of the tube B, below thestep-bearing b. The wires are thus led out from the hollow shell 0 D,without necessitating an exposing opening therein. The wires 1, 2, 3,and 4, pass out from tube B, through the standard A, and are thence ledin any desired direction.

The insulation of the disk 11, from the shaft F, and of the collars 1',j, k, and sleeve Z, from tube B, protect all the parts of thecircuitcontroller and of the instruments connected with the conductors1, 2, 3,4, from the effects of lightning striking the wind vane.

In the main, the wind vane circuit controller shown in Figs. 1, to 8,inclusive, and as thus described, is the same as the correspondinginstrumentalities set forth in my patent No. 474,735 above named. Theprincipal feature of improvement which has been intro duced by thepresent invention is the employment of the two electrodes X and Y,having independent connections with the electric generator, and the twosets of electrodes g and h,

carried by the disk 11, together with the features of constructionconnected therewith. The purpose of this change will be hereinafterfully set forth in connection with the description of the diagram Fig.17. In other respects the construction of the wind vane and its circuitcontroller set forth in said patent No.'474,735, have been in the mainfollowed. The indicating instrument which is illus-' trated in Figs. 9,to 16, inclusive, is one of that class of electric indicatinginstruments which comprise a fixed dial or reading scale'5 (see Fig. 9),an index 6, co-operating therewith-and capable of a step-by-stepmovement in either direction, two electro-receptive devices, such aselectro-magnets 7, 8, (see Fig. 10,) and mechanism intermediate betweensaid electro-receptive devices, and said index, which moves said indexin opposite directions depending upon which of said electro-receptivedevices is actuated by an electric current.

The scale 5, index 6, and magnets 7, 8, of the indicating instrument,are all supported on a suitable supporting plate 9, of wood or othersuitable insulating material, and to the rear of this plate 9, isrigidly secured a metallic plate 10. On opposite sides of this plate 10,are rigidly mounted two metallic brackets 11, 12, which support themagnets 7, 8, respectively. Also rigidly mounted on the plate 10, aretwo perpendicular metallic posts 13 to which is rigidly secured byscrews 14, a T-shaped metallic bridge 15, which is thus held parallelwith the plate 10, and in rigid and immovable connection, therewith. Onthis rigidly mounted and secured bridge 15, and the plate 10, aremounted all-the act-uating mechanism between the magnets'7,'8, and theindex'6. The index 6, is secured to a spindle or shaft 17, which isjournaled in bearings formed by the plate 10, and the bridge 15. Rigidlysecured to this shaft or spindle 17, by means of a set screw 18, betweenthe plate 10, and the bridge 15, is a collar 19, having aradially-extending stud 20, on which turns a bevel pinion 21. This bevelpinion gears at all times at diametrically opposite points with twoparallel bevel gears 22, and 23, which rotate loosely on the shaft orspindle 17. Bigidly connected to the bevel gear 22, so as to rotatetherewith, is an advancing ratchet wheel 24; and rigidly connected tothe bevel gear 23, so as to rotate therewith is a reversing ratchetwheel 25. The gears 21, 22, and 23, constitute a species of epicyclictrain.

In order to rotate the advancing ratchet 24, the magnet 7, is provided.The armature 27 of this magnet is carried by a vibrating armature lever28, which is carried by a rock shaft 29, journaled at opposite ends bysuitable provisions in the bridge 15, and metal plate 10. This armaturelever is vibrated in one direction when the armature 27, is attracted tothe magnet 7, on the excitation of the same by the passage of anelectric current, and in the opposite direction by a spring 30. The longarm of this armature lever 28, carries a pawl 31 pivotally mountedthereon which engages with the advancing ratchet wheel 24. This pawl isheld in engagement with the ratchet wheel by a spring 32. In an exactlysimilar manner the magnet 8, controls the movement of armature lever 33,carrying its armature 34. Lever 33, has a pawl 35, which normallyengages with the reversing ratchet 25, being held in engagementtherewith by a spring 32. Since the pawls 31, and 35, of the twoarmature levers are on opposite sides of the spindle or shaft 17, itfollows that the advancing and reversing ratchets 24, and 25, will berotated in opposite directions by their respective pawls, and since thepawls are always in engagement with the ratchets it follows that theratchets 24, and 25, cannot move backward. The rigid connection of theratchets 24, and 25, with the turning bevel gears 22, 23, respectively,and the presence of the intermediate epicyclic bevel pinion 21, enablethe shaft or spindle 17, to be rotated in opposite directions. hen theadvancing ratchet 24, is rotated, by the action of armature lever 23,the loose gear 22, turns with it and carries the epicyclic bevel pinion21, round with it. The reversing ratchet 25, and its gear 23, cannotturn with the ratchet 24, owing to the pawl 35. Consequently, as thebevel pinion 21, is carried around, it rotates on its own axis by reasonof its engagement with stationary bevel gear 23. The shaft or spindle isthus caused to rotate forward in the same direction that the advancingratchet 24, turns. When, however,

the reversing ratchet 25, is rotated by the action of its armature lever33, an exactly equivalent effect is produced, except that the shaft orspindle rotates backward or in the opposite direction, the advancingratchet 24, in this instance being prevented from backward rotation bythe pawl 31.

The are through which the shaft or spindle 17, moves at each movement ofeither armature lever depends upon the extent of movement of thearmature levers, the number of teeth on each of the ratchets 24, 25, andthe relative size of the epicyclic pinion 21, as compared with the gears22, 23. The extent of movement of the armature levers is regulated byset screws 36, carried by fixed pillars 65. In the illustratedinstrument, the ratchets 24, 25, have each sixteen teeth, the movementof each armature lever is sufficient to move its ratchet one tooth at atime, and each bevel gear 22, 23, is twice the diameter of, and hastwice as many teeth as, the epieyclic pinion 21. Consequently, the shaftor spindle 17, and the index 6, move through an are equal to onethirty-second part of a complete rotation at each step. This length ofstep is a proper one in the illustrated indicator, since it correspondswith the number of contacts g h of the wind vane circuit controller.

It is obvious that the extent of each step of the shaft 17, and itsindex 6, can be regulated to any extent by the introduction of gearingbetween the ratchets 24, 25, and the gears 22, 23, respectively. It isonly essential that the ratchets 24, 25, should be so connected with therespective gears 22, 23, as to rotate simultaneously therewith.

The indicating instrument as thus far described is identical inoperation, and substantially identical in construction, with thecorresponding instrument set forth in my abovenamed patent No, 474,735,dated May 10, 1892. The improvements upon the same will now bedescribed.

The lower post 13, has two laterally and oppositely projecting arms 37,33, (see Fig. 12,) to each of which are pivoted upwardly-extendingdetents 39, 40, which are held by springs 41 also carried by the arms37, 38, in contact with the ratchets 24, and 25, respectively. Thesedetents prevent the ratchets being rotated backwardly by the backwarddrag of their respective operating pawls 31, and 35. I am well awarethat it is old to add detents to ratchets to prevent the backwardrotation thereof. Heretofore, however, in electric indicatinginstruments, where the index-carrying shaft has to be rotated inopposite directions, it has been necessary to either omit detents or toprovide means for throwing such detents out of action since they permitrotation in one direction only. The use of the epicyclic gears 21, 22,23, enables the detents to be used, since each of the gears 22, and 23,moves in one direction only. Close to the plate 10, the shaft 17,carries a star wheel 42, having as many notches as there are steps in acomplete rotation of the shaft 17, and with this star wheel engages abowl 43 carried by a spring 44, whereby the bowl is held in frictionalcontact with the star wheel 42. This device insures the accuratemovement of the shaft one step at a time. Bearing against the outer endof the shaft 17, where it projects through the bridge 15, is a spring45, which bears frictionally on the shaft and assists in maintaining theshaft in the positions to which it may be moved.

The plate 10, carries a suitable number of binding posts 46, 47, 48, 49,50, for the connec tion of the several wires. These binding posts areinsulated from the plate 10. The lower post 13, has a wire opening 51,and binding screw 52,so that post 13 serves also asa binding post. Post13 is in metallic contact with all the metal work of the indicatinginstrument (not specially insulated) including the shaft 17.

Forward of the plate 10, concentric with the shaft 17,but-insulated fromboth,is a stationary device Z, which I term a commutator by reason ofits structural resemblance to the commutator of a dynamo-electricmachine. This commutator consists of two metallic disks 53, 54, (seeFigs. 11,and 15) which have intermeshing sections 55, 56, respectively.The two plates 53, 54, with their respective sections 55, 56, are whollyinsulated from each other. The sections 55, 56, are arranged in a circleconcentric with the shaft 17, with their outer surfaces parallel withthe shaft. The sections 55, 56, alternate with each other, and are equalin number with the contacts g h, that is, in the illustratedconstruction they are thirty-two in n u mber. The disks 53, 54, areconnected by wires 3, 4, respectively, with binding posts 48, 48.

(lo-operating with the commutator Z, is a revolving metallic brush 57,which is carried by the shaft 17 so as to rotate therewith, and

which travels in contact with the sections 55, 56. During thestep-by-step rotation of the shaft the brush is brought successivelyinto contact with the several sections 55, 56, so that the brush 57(which is in metallic contact with binding post 13) is broughtalternately into metallic connection with the disks 53, 54.

The purpose of the commutator Z, and the connections between the circuitcontroller and the indicator, will be described in connection with thediagram Fig. 17. In this figure the several instrumentalities aresomewhat conventionalized but will be readily recognized. Conductor 1,extends from electrode 0, co-opcrating with stud I, on disk H, toadvancing magnet 7. Conductor 2, extends from electrode R, co-operatingwith stud I, on disk H, to reversing magnet 8. Magnet 7, is connected byconductor 61, and magnet 8, by.

conductor 62, with binding post 46, from which conductor 63, leads toone pole of the electric generator L. From the opposite pole ofgenerator L, conductor 64, leads to the brush 57. The conductor 64, isthe one which is connected with binding post 13, from which there ismetallic connection with brush 57, through bridge 15, and shaft 17.Conductor 3, extends from electrode X, co-operating with the outerseries of contacts 9 on rotating disk H, to the disk 53 of thecommutator Z. Conductor 4, extends from electrode Y, co-operating withthe inner series of contacts h on disk H, to the disk 54 of thecommutator Z.

In the position of parts shown in the diagram, Fig. 17, stud I is incontact with electrode O, electrode X, is incontact with one ofthe-contacts g. electrode Y, is idle, and brush 57, is in contact withone of the sections 56, of the commutatordisk 54. Hence all of thecircuits are open. Assume now that the disk H, is rotated'in thedirection of arrow 41, 0 will still remain in contact with I, andcontact h below Y, is brought into contact with Y. A closed circuit isthen established as follows:from generator L, through conductor 64,brush 57, disk54, conductor 4, electrode Y, contact 71., disk H, studLelectrode O, conductor 1, magnet 7, and conductors 61, 63, back to thegenerator L. The closing of the circuit excites magnet 7, thus movingshaft 17, one step, and consequently moving brush 57 one step (say inthedirection of arrow 66) thus transferring brush 57 from contact with asection 56 of disk 54, into contact with a section 55 of disk 53. Thismovement of brush 57, at once breaks the circuit again,

since brush 57, is then brought into electric connection with electrodeX, (which is then dead, since, when Y is in contact with a contact h,electrode X is intermediate between two of the contacts g,) and'theconnection between live electrode Y, and the generator is broken at thedisk 54. Should, however, the disk H, rotate in the direction oppositeto arrow 41, the stud I will leave electrode 0, and come in contact withelectrode R. Further rotation of disk H, will bring the contact it nextabove electrode Y into contact therewith. The circuit will then beclosed through wire 2, reversing magnet 8, wire 62, wire 63, generatorL, wire 64, brush 57, commutator disk 54, wire 4, electrode Y, contacth, disk H, stud L, electrode R, to wire 2, again. Reversing magnet S,will then be excited, rotating shaft 17, one step in the directionopposite to arrow 66, thus bringing brush 57,into

contact with a section of disk 53, breaking the circuit, and renderingelectrode Y dead, and electrode X live. The function of electrodes O, R,and stud I, is thus to determine whether advancing magnet 7, orreversing magnet 8, shall be in circuit, this function being old, asshown in my aforesaid patent No. 474,735. And the function of brush 57,and commutator disks 53, and 54, is to determine which of the two setsof contacts g, or h, shall be live or dead. 7

It will be noted that when the series of contacts g, are dead theyremain so until one of the contacts it comes in contact withelectrode Y.Then immediatelycontacts gbecome live the contact h, intermediatebetween them has operated,nor can one contact g, having operated,operate again until one of the adjacent contacts h h has operated. Theobject of thus having two rows of contacts g 7t,two commutator disks 53,54, with alternating sections, and the electrodes X Y and brush 57, willbe best appreciated by considering the defects which experience hasdeveloped in the apparatus shown in mysaid patent No. 474,735. If, onthe diagram Fig. 17 of the present case, only the electrode X, and itscontacts 9 were employed and wire 64 should lead directly from generatorL, to electrode X, the arrangement of said patent would in substance bereproduced. In such a construction, electrode X would always be incommunication with the generator, and any make and break in the circuitthrough it would excite either magnet 7, or magnet 8. The making andbreaking of the circuit may occur accidentally and in absence ofrotation of the disk H. Assume, for example, that the disk H, should bejarred or rocked, so as to separate electrode X, and contact g, and thenbring them together again.

This action would close the circuit, and consequently move the index ofthe receiving instrument without any corresponding movement of thetransmitter. Again, the space between the electrodes 0, R, must begreater than the diameter of the stud I, and slight jarring of the diskII, will cause stud I, to make and break contact with one electrode, as0, without coming in contact with electrode R. If this occurs when thereis contact between electrode X, and contact h, the index of thereceiving instrument will be moved without any corresponding movement ofthe transmitter. These accidental makes and breaks are particularlyliable to occur where the transmitter is used with a wind vane. It is ofcourse essential to the operativeness of any indicating system thatthere should be always an exact accordance between the transmitter andreceiver. Now the present improvements entirely eliminate thepossibilityof anyaccidental makes and breaks which would afiect thereceiving instruments. As soon as a contact 9 or hon disk I-I, touches alive electrode X or Y, the index of the receiving instrument is moved,and instantly the commutator brush is shifted so as to cut out thegenerator. No extent of vibration of the disk H, can then be of anyconsequence, since the disk H, must rotate one unit of distance before acircuit through the generator can be closed.

The indicating instrument illustrated in Figs. 9, to 16, not only actsas an indicating instrument but also as the means for cutting out thetransmitter except at the instant whenthetransmittercompletesamovementthrough one unit of distance. It is alsoconstructed to act as a relay instrument for re transmitting theindications received by it to one or more other places.

Secured to the plate 10, and extending backwardly therefrom, are twoposts 67, 68, of insulating material (see Fig. 12.) The post 67, islocated just within the advancing armature lever 28. This post carriestwo separate spring electrodes (39, and 70, insulated from each other bythe post 67. These electrodes are best shown in Figs. 13, and 10. Theseelectrodes 69, and 7 O, constitute the terminals of an electric circuit.Electrode 69, is connected by wire 71, with binding post 40 (see Fig.10,) and thence by wire 71 (see the diagram Fig. 17) with the advancingmagnets 72, 72, of a plurality of electric indicating instruments 73,arranged in series. These electric indicating instruments 73 may be ofany approved construction, as for example of the construction set forthin my said patent No. 474,735. A return wire 74, leads from the lastmagnet 72, in the series to one pole of an electric generator 75. Fromthe opposite pole of generator 75, a wire 76 leads to binding post 50,and from thence a wire 77, leads to the other electrode 70. This circuitis normally an open one. When, however, advancins armature lever 28, ismoved by the excitation of its actuating magnet 7, a stud 78,0f hardrubber or other insulating material carried by the lever encounters theelectrode 69, thereby bringing the latter into contact with electrode70, closing the circuit actuating the several magnets 72, and advancingthe respective indexes 79, of the several indicators 73, one step. Theother post 68, is located just within the reversing lever 33 (see Fl".10.) Post 68, carries two separated spring electrodes 80, and 81,insulated from each other and constituting the terminals of an electriccircuit. Electrode 80, is connected by wire 82, with binding post 49(see Fig. 10) and thence by wire 82 (see the diagram Fig. 17) with thereversing magnets 83, 83, of the indicators 73, arranged in series. Thelast magnet 83, of the series is connected by return wire 74:, with onepole of the generator 75. From the opposite pole of the generator 75,wire 76 leads to the binding post 50, and from thence a wire 84., leadsto the other electrode 81. This circuit is normally an open one. When,however, reversing armature lever 33, is moved by the excitation of itsactuating magnet 8, a stud 85, of insulating material carried by thelever encounters electrode 80, thereby bringing the latter into contactwith electrode 81, closing the circuit actuating the several magnets 83,and reversing the respective indexes 79, of the several indicators 72,one step.

It is evident that numerous modifications may be made in theconstruction of the instruments without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

The central feature of, the invention is the cut out device orcommutator which cuts out the electrodes of the transmitter as soon asthey have fulfilled their transmitting function. The cut out orcommutator need not be used in connection with an indicating instrument,but may be used in connection with instrumentalities for operating italone.

In the transmitting instrument the projecting studs g h constitutingcontacts on the disk H, might be replaced by electro-conductive andnon-conductive sections, as in my patent No. 474,735, but the lattersections are less desirable since moisture collecting on the disk H, isapt to spread across the flat sections and establish short circuits. Thetransmitting disk H, may be stationary and the electrodes X Y may bemovable. In cases where the disk is rotated in one direction only, thestud I, and electrodes 0, B, may be omitted, the.

disk H, in such case being connected directly with the generator. Insuch instance also, one of the magnets 7, or 8, would be omitted.

The transmitter H, need not be a flat disk. It might for example be acylinder with two rows of contacts 9 71 arranged in different planes andprojecting either outwardly or inwardly. There may be more than twoseries of contacts g h, in which case there would be more than twoelectrodes X Y, and more than two commutator disks 53, 54. The doublearrangement shown, however, is all that is necessary, and any othermultiple arrangement would be merely a development of the principles ofthe invention. Since any such mul-, tiple arrangement would include andinvolve the use ofthe double arrangement, my subjoined claims, claimingthe double arrange,

ment, are to be understood as covering any multiple arrangement.

The commutator X, on the receiver can be located at any convenientplace, and may itself be given the step-by-step movement, the brush 37in such case being stationary.

I claim as my invention- 1. An electric transmittinginstrument havingtwo series of contacts, all electrically connected with one pole of anelectric generator, the contacts of one series alternating with those ofthe other series, the electric generator, and two electrodesco-operating respectively with said two series of contacts, saidelectrodes and contacts being movable relatively to each other wherebysaid electrodes are brought alternately into electric connection withsaid poleof the electric generator, in combination with a cut-out deviceor commutator having two sets or series of alternating electroconductive sections, said sets or series being insulated from eachother, the several sections of one set or series being in electricconnection with one of said electrodes, and the sections of the otherset or series being in electric connection with the other electrode, abrush in electric communication with the opposite pole of the electricgenerator and cooperating with said alternating electro-conductivesections, said outout or commutator and brush having a movementrelatively to each other, and mechanism controlled by the electrictransmitting mechanism for moving said cut-out'or commutator and brushrelatively to-each other, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of an electric transmitting instrument, an electricreceiving instrument controlled in its movements by said transmitter,and an automatic cut-out controlled in its movements by said receiver,said transmitter having two sets of alternating contacts all of whichare in electrical communication with the electro-receptive provision ofsaid receiver, said automatic cutout having two sets of alternatingGlBGII'O conductive sections each of which is in an independent circuitincluding one of the two sets of contacts of said transmitter, saidautomatic cut-out including a brush or equivalent contacting deviceco-operating with said electro-conductive sections one by one and incircuit with the electro-receptive provision of said receiver, and saidtransmitter including two independent and insulated electrodes eachco-operating respectively with the contacts of one of said sets ofcontacts one by one, each of said electrodes being in circuit constantlywith one of said sets of electro-conductive sections of the automaticcut-out, substantially as set forth.

3. The generator L, the contacts 9 and h in electric connectiontherewith, and the electrodes X and Y, in combination with sections 55,and 56, in electric connection with said electrodes X and Y, and brush57, in electric connection with said generator L, substantially as setforth.

4. The transmitting disk H, capable of rotation in opposite directions,and having stud I, and two sets of alternating contacts g, and h,electric generator L, electrodes 0, and R,

on opposite sides of stud I, and electrodes X,

and Y, co-operating with said contacts g and h respectively, incombination with shaft 17 magnets 7, and 8, intermediate mechanismbetween said .magnet and said shaft for r0- tating said shaft inopposite directions, an electric generator L, electric conductorsconnecting both of said magnets with one pole thereof, conductor 1between electrode 0 and magnet 7, conductor 2 between electrode R andmagnet 8, the cut-out or commutatorhaving two insulated series ofalternating sections 55 and 56, conductor3 between sections 55 andelectrode X, conductor 4 between sections 56 and electrode Y, and brush57 on shaft 1 7 and in electric connection with the opposite pole ofsaid generator, substantially as set forth. I

5. The transmitter I having two sets of metallic pins g and hconstituting electric contacts projecting therefrom, said pins beingarranged in two rows, the pins in one row alternating in position withthose in the other row, in combination with the. two electrodes X and Y,co-operating respectively with said pins g and It said electrodes X Ybeing insulated from each other and included in independent circuitssubstantially as set forth.

ITO

6. In an electric indicating instrument, a driven rotary spindle orshaft, a pinion carried by and rotating with said spindle or shaft andhaving an independent rotation on its own axis, and two gears concentricwith said spindle or shaft but free to rotate independently of saidspindle or shaft, in combination with a ratchet wheel capable ofmovement on one direction only, said ratchet wheel being connected withone of said gears, a movable pawl cooperating with said ratchet wheeland constantly engaging therewith, a detent engaging said ratchet wheelto prevent backward rotation thereof, a second ratchet wheel capable ofmovement only in a direction opposite to that in which said firstratchet wheel moves, said second ratchet wheel being connected with theother of said gears, a second movable pawl co-operating with said secondratchet wheel and constantly engaging therewith, and a second detentengaging said second ratchet wheel to prevent any backward rotationthereof, substantially as set forth.

7. In an electric indicatinginstrument, the driven rotary index-carryingshaft or spindle, a collar fixed thereto so as to turn therewith,

said collar having a radial stud, a bevel-pinion carried by and turningon said stud, and two bevel gears loosely turning on said shaft orspindle on opposite sides of said collar, said bevel'gears both meshingat all times with said bevel-pinion, in combination with twooppositely-toothed ratchet wheels secured fast to said bevel-gearsrespectively, the two swinging armature levers on opposite sides of saidspindle or shaft having pawls which co-operate with said ratehetsrespectively, to drive the same, and which constantly engage with theirrespective ratchets, two detents engaging said ratchets respectively toprevent backward rotation thereof, and two electro-magnets whichrespectively control the movements of said armature levers,substantially as set forth.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

HENRY J HAIGII'I.

Witnesses:

ALBERT A. BARNES, JOSEPH A. STooKnN.

